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Outdoor Program

In This Site

The Westminster Outdoor Program exemplifies Westminster's unique environment for learning, which is located minutes from world-class skiing, mountain biking, and rock climbing in the local Wasatch Mountains. Beyond the Wasatch lie Utah's red rock deserts, wild rivers, and vast wilderness areas—all of which become both Westminster's playground and classroom.

Through meaningful outdoor experiences, the Outdoor Program helps students to develop leadership, technical skills, self-awareness, character, and stewardship. Student leadership is a priority for the program and most outdoor trips are student-led. Graduates who were a part of the Outdoor Program often leave Westminster having weeks of valuable field experience, advanced certifications, and an understanding of how lessons learned in the outdoors can apply to other areas of college, career, and everyday life.

Whether you're joining us for an evening hike or a weekend in the backcountry, you'll most likely learn something new, meet interesting people, and spend time in awe-inspiring places.

Upcoming Trips and Events

Westminster students, faculty, staff, alumni, and their guests are welcome to participate in outdoor program trips and events. We're committed to supporting anyone who is interested in getting involved regardless of skill level, previous experience, or equipment needs. Contact outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions or if you would like to participate but cannot pay the entire event fee. While modest, the Outdoor Program Participation Fund is designed to help in these cases.

People hiking on a trail.

Westminster + Wasatch Mountain Club Evening Hike

July 25
All day


Get out of the summer heat in the valley and enjoy the beautiful alpine scenery around Brighton, at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, on this evening hike. You'll also get to engage with the broader outdoor community, as we're partnering with the Wasatch Mountain Club (WMC). We'll meet on campus around 4pm and drive to Brighton, where we'll meet the rest of our crew from WMC and spend a few hours hiking around Lake Mary and the WMC Lodge.

No cost!

At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed  trailhead, hiking on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying backpacks weighing up to 10 pounds. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.


Register for Evening Hike
people hiking on a trail

OP Alpine Backpacking

August 29–September 01
All day


Explore the pine forests, wildflower meadows, and rocky peaks of the Uinta Mountains! This trip is geared toward any experience level, including beginners. If you have been interested in seeing a different part of the state, backpacking, getting more involved with the outdoor program, or just getting outside for the weekend - this trip is for you!

Cost: 

Generous donors from our One Westminster Day fundraiser are allowing us to offer all of our trips this year for just $5! This includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction.

At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed  trailhead, hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying backpacks weighing up to 40 pounds. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.


Register for Alpine Backpacking
women doing a headstand on a paddle board

OP Lake Day Trip

September 06
All day


Come enjoy a day hanging out at a lake in the Uintas! We will have a picnic lunch, Stand Up Paddle boards (SUP's) and other inflatable water crafts to explore on.

Cost: 

$5 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction. 

At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed  trailhead and walking on uneven terrain over to the lake. We will provide personal floatation devices (PFD's) for participants, but participants should know the basics of swimming/water safety while engaging in this activity. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.


Register for Lake Day
students sitting in red sand together

OP Biking Day Trip

September 13
All day


Come enjoy a day Biking around the Wasatch Front! 

Cost: 

$5 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction. 

At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed  trailhead and biking on uneven terrain. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.


Register for Biking Day Trip
man climbing a rock

OP City of Rocks Climbing

September 19–September 21
All day


Explore the unique granite domes and high desert environment of City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho! This trip is geared toward any experience level, including people who have never rock climbed. If you are interested in outdoor climbing (whether trying it for the first time, moving from gym to crag, or just climbing in a new place), getting more involved with the outdoor program, or just getting outside for the weekend - this trip is for you!

Cost: 

Generous donors from our One Westminster Day fundraiser are allowing us to offer all of our trips this year for just $5! This includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction.

At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed  trailhead, hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying backpacks weighing up to 20 pounds. Participants get to choose the level of challenge they take on in rock climbing, and we will celebrate all successes, whether that is just making it a few feet off the ground or getting to the top of every route. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.


Register for Climbing
students hiking on a trail

OP Peak Ascent Day Trip

October 03
All day


Join the OP for a peak attempt of one of our iconic peaks in the Wasatch Range just East of Campus!

Cost: 

$5 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction. 

At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed  trailhead, hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying day packs weighing up to 20 pounds. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.


Register for Peak Ascent
students sitting in a circle in red sand

OP Desert Backpacking

November 14–November 16
All day


Explore the red rocks and canyons of southern Utah! This trip is geared toward any experience level, including beginners. If you have been interested in seeing a different part of the state, backpacking, getting more involved with the outdoor program, or just getting outside for the weekend - this trip is for you!

Cost: 

Generous donors from our One Westminster Day fundraiser are allowing us to offer all of our trips this year for just $5! This includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction.

At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed  trailhead, hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying backpacks weighing up to 40 pounds. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.


Register for Desert Backpacking
person cooking with headlamp

OP Full Moon Cookout Evening Trip

December 05
All day


Join the OP for a cookout evening in the mountains to admire the full moon in the Wasatch Range just East of Campus!

Cost: 

$5 includes all food, transportation, equipment, and instruction. 

At the Outdoor Program, we acknowledge that not all parts of all trips are accessible to all people. On this trip, we will be traveling in college vehicles to a car accessed  trailhead, hiking and scrambling on uneven trails of dirt and rock or off trail, carrying day packs weighing up to 20 pounds. If there are other details that would help you understand the accessibility of this trip, please reach out to outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions and we would be happy to talk through possibilities and potential accommodations.


Register for Full Moon Cookout

 

Refund and Cancellation Policy

  • If there is a fee, you must pay for the trip or event before you are considered to be registered. Email outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu if you're having trouble with payment.
  • If you register for a trip and cancel before the registration deadline (if applicable), you can receive a refund for the trip.
  • If you register for a trip and cancel before the pre-trip meeting (if applicable), but after the registration deadline (if applicable), you can apply the registration fees as a credit toward a future trip with the Outdoor Program within the same academic school year.
  • If you cancel after the pre-trip meeting (if applicable), no refunds or credits will be given.
  • You MUST attend scheduled pre-trip meetings for trips if applicable. Meeting dates and times vary and will be included in event information. If you do not attend the meeting and have not made other arrangements with us to get trip information, your spot on the trip may be forfeited. Email outdoorprogram@westminsteru.edu with any questions or concerns about attending pre-trip meetings.
  • No refunds for Wilderness First Responder/First Aid/re-certifications, avalanche certification courses, and AMGA Single Pitch Instructor course will be given unless the Outdoor Program cancels the event.

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